Golf Course Review of Tenby Golf Club

Golf courses such as Tenby are very few and far between. For
me they capture the absolute essence of links golf.

They provide not only a true test of the game but give you
much more than that; they provide a memorable and scintillating golfing
experience.

How and why? You may rightly ask. And the answer is all to
do with the movement of the land.

At Tenby you play over naturally billowing terrain that
tumbles, falls and rises in all manner of ways. Sometimes it’s subtle whilst
at others, and for the most part, it’s more pronounced with many changes in
elevation as you travel over and through the natural duneland. Golf courses
are often called rollercoaster rides and this term is no more fitting than
here.

The mobility of the land allows for green settings that
provide holes of exceptional quality and a uniqueness that cannot be
replicated. The rumpled nature of the fairways provide holes of strategy, a
variety of lies and a feeling, when walking them, that cannot be bettered.
You feel in touch with nature, and you are, because that is what created the
amazing topography.

You are faced with some blind shots, others that are
partially visible whilst for the most part you know where you are going.
The
ground game is very much in force on this exciting links, and shot-making
comes to the fore, whilst there is also the occasional forced carry; the
terrifying par-three 12th is perhaps the best example. Tenby mixes it all up
perfectly.

Holes such as the first, third, fourth, ninth, 11th and
12th are of the very highest order; amongst my favourite holes anywhere, the
third and ninth especially. They use the land perfectly to give us holes of
equal charm and challenge that you will never tire of playing.

Add into the equation the true links delights of the
second, fifth, sixth, 10th, 13th, 14th and 18th along with the sterner
challenge of the seventh and eighth and you have 15 holes of seriously good
golf at Tenby. How many other courses can lay claim to this many? Very few
is the answer.

Sadly, there is a small catch. And that comes in the form
of three holes that have a real disconnect from the rest of the course.
Holes 15 to 17 are played on a parcel of land away from the true Tenby, both
in terms of distance and the feel of the turf. I didn’t much care for the
design of the 16th and whilst 15 and 17 are certainly not bad holes there is
a clear separation of quality from the rest of the links. The club are
trying to get this trio to blend in with the rest of the course, and give
them more of a linksy feel, but I fear this is an impossible task.
Personally I would play these holes as the second, third and fourth so they
are long forgotten by the time you walk off the 18th. But let’s not dwell on
these for they take little away from the overall experience of playing at
Tenby. This is undoubtedly and magnificently captured over the first 14
holes.

In fact the third is about as good as it gets; an
undulating fairway that legs to the right with a table-top green where I was
advised prior to playing not to miss it right. Upon telling the professional
on the day of play about my insider knowledge of this hole he simply smiled
and said, “You don’t want to miss it left either.” He was of course correct
and finding this green is absolutely essential unless you have the short
game of a magician. Holes like this are not created; they are simply
discovered amongst the dunescape.

In terms of quirk-factor the 4th has it all. An
intimidating tee-shot to a fairway that falls dramatically should you drive
far enough before rising up again to hide a green that is set deep in a
dell.

Meanwhile the ninth has a thrilling drive to a slither of fairway not
dissimilar to the third, before you play to a green tucked partially behind
a huge sandhill.

Hopefully, those three holes will encourage you to visit
Tenby for they are truly world-class, all-encompassing masterpieces. They
are however merely the tip of an iceberg that is some 15 holes deep.

What you also have at Tenby is a real connection with the
sea and the town itself. The ninth tee has the most amazing view over a
sandy beach towards the picturesque harbour town edging the cliffs that look
out to the small tidal island of St Catherine’s and the more distant Caldey
Island beyond.

With excellent Dormy house accommodation on site at Tenby
and the proximity of the club to town after just one visit this has become
one of my favourite places -
certainly one of the most underrated - to ‘play and stay’ when golfing not just in Wales
but the entire United Kingdom.